10 Night Marathon & Kim Il-Sung Birthday Tour from Beijing

Travel Dates: April 6 - 16/17

Pre-Tour Meeting: April 5th (Friday) in Beijing

Tour Cost: from 1,749 Euros

Visa Fee: 50 Euros

Tour Open For Applications

An amazing spring tour of North Korea! Take part in the amazing and unique Pyongyang Marathon, join the locals celebrating the birthday of Kim Il Sung and get to parts of the country not often visited by foreigners.

Koryo Tours is excited to offer the chance for amateur runners to take part in the 2019 Pyongyang Marathon. This race can be run either as a full marathon or as a half marathon, and there are also 10km and 5km races. In addition to the foreign amateur runners, hundreds of local runners and elite foreign runners will be participating as well.

For the truly adventurous traveler, this 10-night tour will get you across to the east coast where you’ll tour the seaside city Wonsan and then go hiking on Mt. Kumgang – also known as the diamond of Korea.

April 15th is one of the biggest holidays in the DPRK calendar – the 107th birthday of President Kim Il Sung, also known as the Day of the Sun. We’ll make sure that we’re in Pyongyang this day, soaking up the atmosphere and joining in the birthday celebrations with the locals!

You’ll also go south to Kaesong, down to the DMZ, where North and South Korea continue their face-off. This tour also visits the lively city of Pyongsong, where you will meet the incredibly talented students at a local school and see a performance at the Pyongsong Conservatory of Performing Arts.

TOUR ITINERARY

Fri 5 Apr

Sat 6 Apr

Sun 7 Apr

Mon 8 Apr

Tues 9 Apr

Wed 10 Apr

Fri 5 Apr

Mandatory Pre-Tour Briefing

All travelers are required to attend a pre-tour briefing that covers regulations, etiquette, safety, and practicalities for travel in North Korea. The briefing lasts approximately one hour followed by a question and answer session. Please be punctual for the briefing. You can come early, meet your fellow travelers, and pay any outstanding tour fees. A proper briefing is an essential part of travel to North Korea.

For Pyongyang Marathon tours, we will hold several briefings - in the morning for those departing by train in the afternoon, and in the afternoon for those departing by flight the next day. The exact times of these briefings are TBC.

Train travelers depart Beijing Station at 5:00pm by domestic sleeper train to Dandong, the Chinese city on the border with the DPRK. Please arrange independent travel to the train station and arrive at least an hour and a half early for the train departure. Those travelling by train will spend the night on the train.

Overnight Hotel in Beijing not included in the tour for those taking the flight the next day. Contact us for recommendations.

Arrival day in Pyongyang

Arrival to Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport (FNJ) expected at 4:05pm. DPRK immigration and customs, meet your Korean guides and transfer to the city.

Arch of Triumph - A massive archway made for the 70th anniversary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung in 1982 and commemorating the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Larger than its counterpart in Paris.

Kim Il Sung Stadium & Marathon Route Preview - Visit the stadium where you will start and finish your race, and then drive the marathon route to familiarise yourself with the roads, turning points and toilet stops.

Check into the Yanggakdo International Hotel, Pyongyang - home away from home for most (but not all!) foreign visitors to Pyongyang, this 47-story hotel is located on an island in the middle of the Taedong River and offers great views of the city. Comfortable rooms and comprehensive leisure facilities: swimming pool, spa, billiards, bowling, gift shops, tea houses and beer brewed on-site.

Optional screening of Comrade Kim Goes Flying - a DPRK film about a young rural coal miner, and North Korea’s first “girl power” movie about a young woman achieving her dreams. Produced and directed by a British, Belgian, and Korean team. The film is 78 minutes long and will be shown at the Pyongyang International House of Cinema, a short distance from our hotel. (100 RMB entry fee).

Sun 7 Apr

The big event - The Pyongyang Marathon 2019!

The 2019 Pyongyang Marathon - this is your chance to run the streets of Pyongyang in the DPRK’s largest annual sports event! Join the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km race — all of which follow a return course that starts and ends in Kim Il Sung Stadium in front of a 50-000-strong capacity crowd of local Koreans. The full route, which has been certified by both the IAAF and AIMS, leads right through the city centre, past a number of iconic landmarks, and then out into Pyongyang's less urban districts. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see more of the capital and interact with people along the course. Prizes are available for the winners of each race.

Shower, resting time and lunch - After the marathon's closing ceremony, we'll be heading back to the hotel to recharge, shower and rest before heading out for a relaxing afternoon in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang MetroTour - One of the deepest metro systems in the world with artwork reflecting the name of each station. Ride six stations on the Chollima Line.

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum - World-class museum exhibiting the DPRK perspective of the Korean War with artifacts, documents, photos, and lifelike dioramas. The exterior grounds house the War Victory Monument and captured equipment from the US military, including the USS Pueblo. Central to understanding the country today.

Drive to Pyongsong. A 45 minute to 1 hour drive.

We'll check in for our overnight stay at the Jangsusan Hotel, Pyongsong - the only hotel in Pyongsong open for tourists and one of the most fun in the whole country! Basic facilities with fairly reliable electricity and hot water. One of best bartenders in the country mans the bar. Billiards, karaoke, hair dresser, and outdoor eateries in summer.

Tues 9 Apr

Pyongsong

Pyongsong City Square - Central square of Pyongsong City with statues of the DPRK leadership and flanked by the provincial revolutionary museum. Presentation of flowers customary.

Tok Song Primary School - The area's top primary school for gifted students. Tour the school's classrooms & facilities, watch music & dance performances by the students, and test your ping pong skills against them in the gymnasium.

Konji-ri Revolutionary Site - Location of the headquarters of the Korean People's Army & home of Kim Il Sung during the Korean war. Tour the renovated buildings and learn about life & dangers there during the war.

Pyongsong Conservatory of Performing Arts - Local school focusing on talents in the performing and visual arts, see an excellent performance here.

Pyongsong Foodstuffs Factory - tour one of the area's local factories to learn about what they make, sample their products and purchase some unique souvenirs.

Drive to Pyongyang. A 45 minute to 1 hour drive.

Kwangbok Supermarket - Large department store selling Korean-made and foreign goods. Here it is possible to exchange foreign currency for Korean won to shop with the locals.

Wed 10 Apr

Historic Kaesong and the DMZ

Drive 160 km south the 'Reunification Highway' to Kaesong, the historic capital of the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392) and today located near the Korean Demilitarised Zone. 3 hour drive.

Panmunjom Armistice Village and DMZ - The site of the signing of the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War and the demarcation line between north and south. On some days it is possible to visit the hut straddling the line, where negotiations between both sides once took place. Here we will be accompanied by military guides from the Korean People's Army.

Kaesong Koryo Museum -Once the Songgyung Academy, a Confucian school, and now a museum on the Koryo Dynasty exhibiting historical objects, statues, pagodas, and porcelain from that era. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kaesong Korean Stamp Exhibition Hall - Store selling stamps, postcards, local ginseng, souvenirs, art, and more! One of the best postcard collections in the country and friendly staff.

Traditional Royal Korean Lunch (pangsanggi)- A meal made of 12 dishes served in brass bowls fit for the kings of old. The more dishes, the more distinguished the guest! Traditional Korean 'sweet meat soup' is an option here (5 EUR).

Concrete Wall and view of DMZ - View of a complex fortification system erected on the southern boundary of the DMZ accompanied by a military guide. The wall is seen as evidence of intent to permanently divide the nation. A 45 minute drive each way from Kaesong through scenic countryside.

Drive back to Pyongyangvia Sariwon Folk Village and City View -Mock-up of a traditional Korean town which includes a history museum, food street, and pavilions. There is a small tavern selling Makkoli, traditional rice wine. Climb a nearby hill for a view of Sariwon City and the surrounding plains.

Monument to the Three-Charters of the Reunification - Iconic arch over the Pyongyang-Kaesong Highway dedicated to joint meeting between Koreas, north and south. Also known as the ‘Arch of Reunification’.

Thur 11 Apr

Fri 12 Apr

Sat 13 Apr

Sun 14 Apr

Mon 15 Apr

Tues 16 Apr

Thur 11 Apr

Wonsan City and Korea’s East Coast

Drive east across the width of the peninsula to Wonsan, a major port city, stopping at scenic spots along the way. A 4 hour drive.

Sinpyong Lake Rest Stop - Known as ‘Little Kumgang’ this scenic lakeside rest stop is a preview of the scenery to come.

Ulim Waterfall - Hidden amongst the mountains on the road to Wonsan, ‘Echo’ Waterfall is a scenic stopover to enjoy lunch, stretch your legs, or go for a dip in the pool beneath.

Wonsan Agricultural University - The DPRK’s premier agricultural university set among beautiful hillside scenery. Tour the grounds and the neo-Romanesque teaching hall, originally built by Germans living in the area in the early 20th century.

Songdowon International Schoolchildren’s Camp - A classic socialist summer camp where Korean and international children can spend two weeks learning socialist values and teamwork. Tour the recently renovated dormitories, aquarium, bird house, gymnasium, and more!

Mt. Kumgang

Drive along the East Sea to the Mt. Kumgang, the ‘Diamond Mountain’ noted in East Asian history and famous in Korean legend. Home of some of Korea’s most spectacular natural landscapes and best hiking. A 2.5 hour drive.

Samil Lagoon - A charming green-water coastal lagoon lined by pine forests. Named for the ‘three-day’ stay (sam-il) of a king in days gone-by to take in the full beauty of the area

Hiking at Kuryong Waterfall - An 8 km (round-trip) hike to a scenic waterfall through forests, along mountain streams and by emerald pools. A beautiful place to sit, relax and spend a few hours in nature.

Tonight we'll overnight at the Kumgangsan Hotel, Mt. Kumgang - A comfortable hotel with good hot water supply and clean rooms. Top floor bar and karaoke, outdoor balcony barbeque, billiards, gift shops, and small sauna facilities.

Sat 13 Apr

Return to Pyongyang

Start back to Pyongyang (full day drive) making rest stops along the way.

Sijung Lake Beach - Take a break at this beachside facility on the East Sea. Take a stroll in the sand or go for a swim (2 EUR entry fee includes shower).

Continue drive back to Pyongyang

Golden Lane Bowling Centre - Where Pyongyang locals go for their ten-pin fix (2.5 EUR per person per game). Also has billiards and arcade games. Non-bowlers can head next door to the Kumrung Leisure Centre for an airgun shooting range (approximately 6 EUR per 20 round cartridge) and some of the best coffee in Pyongyang.

Sun 14 Apr

Pyongyang

Kumsusan Palace of the Sun - Mausoleum of the DPRK leadership where President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il lie in state and the most solemn location in the country. Visitations are by special request only and formal dress is required. Men require collared shirt with tie, dark non-jean pants, and dark shoes. Women require covered shoulders, knee-length dress or pants, and closed toed shoes. The visit will take most of the morning and visitors are asked to bow a number of times inside. This is a state administered site and visits are subject to local conditions. The Palace closes for maintenance between late April / early May to July. The exact dates will be confirmed closer to the tour. Should the Palace not be accessible to the group, this visit will be substituted with an alternative location.

Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery - Hilltop cemetery with dozens of bronze busts of those who took part in the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule.

Grand People’s Study House - Huge national library and public university housed in a large neo-traditional Korean building overlooking Kim Il Sung Square and the downtown Pyongyang.

City Tram Ride - A ride through Pyongyang on one of city’s trams from Kwangbok Street.

Future Street - Walk in the newly built residential district for scientists and academics to view its unique modern architecture.

Kaeson Funfair -Take on the rides of Pyongyang’s small but excellently located central funfair with the locals: pirate ship, ‘vominator’, rollercoaster, bumper cars, arcades, and more. Entry and ride tickets purchased on the spot. Ride tickets between 2-7 EUR.

Mon 15 Apr

The Day of the Sun, one of the DPRK’s largest holidays. April 15, 2019, is the 107th anniversary of the birthday of President Kim Il Sung.

Mansudae Fountain Park - The historic center of Pyongyang popular with local citizens after school and on weekends. Flanked by examples of ancient and modern architecture from different eras.

Mansudae Grand Monument - Enormous bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking downtown Pyongyang. A presentation of flowers and bow by the group is customary here (5 EUR). Please note this is a government-administered sight and visits are subject to cancellation. Visits are optional and require a certain dresscode (close-toed shoes and covered legs and shoulders). Here we will also see the Chollima Monument, or ‘thousand ri (400 km or 250 mile) horse’ -a symbol of speed- commemorating the quick rebuilding of the country in the 1950’s following the Korean War.

Kimilsungia and Kimjongillia FlowerExhibition - Exhibit of the two flowers named after the DPRK’s leaders and held on the occasion of their respective birthday anniversaries in February and April. See organizations and groups from across society compete to put on the best floral display.

Moranbong Park -We’ll take a stroll in Pyongyang’s central park popular with locals for picnics, dances, and sports. The park is filled with historic pavilions, walls, and monuments- modern and ancient, a few of which are among the traditional ‘Eight Great Sights of Pyongyang’.

The Pyongyang Circus - A circus show including clowns, trapeze artists, jugglers, and much more. The shows here are especially popular with locals on national holidays and will leave you amazed at the skill of the performers (approx. 20 EUR per person).

Mass Dance - Large student organised dances held around Pyongyang on major holidays (weather dependent). Join in the fun!

Party Foundation Monument - Iconic structure featuring the hammer, sickle & writing brush which make up the emblem of the Worker’s Party of Korea and represent workers, farmers, and intellectuals.

Fireworks over the Taedong River - watch with thousands of locals in Kim Il Sung Square as this holiday comes to an end. Wonderful mingling opportunities in a festive atmosphere

Tues 16 Apr

Departure Day

Departure from Pyongyang and Return to Beijing by flight or train.

Flight departure from Pyongyang on Air Koryo Flight JS151 with a scheduled arrival at Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Terminal 2 at 9:50 am.

OR

Train departure by local train to the Korean-Chinese border at 10:25, transfer in Dandong and onward travel to Beijing with scheduled arrival to Beijing Station on Sunday April 17th at 08:30. For this tour the default option is hard sleeper (six beds per berth).

TRANSPORT OPTIONS

Please read the following for important information about your transport options for this tour. The default option is round-trip train travel from Beijing to Pyongyang, and back again. Flight upgrades are available. Expand the below options for more details, and read below regarding visa for China requirements.

Option 1: Round-trip train (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing)

A 23-hour train journey each way in hard-sleeper class (six bunks per berth) with a transfer in Dandong, China. The train arrives in Pyongyang approximately two hours after the flight so train arrivals will miss one or two activities in the city. This option is for those travelling on a budget with time to spare (and train enthusiasts, of course). [+0 EUR]

We highly recommend this option: it maximizes your time and sightseeing opportunities; lets you experience both Air Koryo and the international train; plus allows you to start the trip rested, while taking the leisurely route home. In our view, this is the most comprehensive way to visit the DPRK. Flight time from Beijing-Pyongyang is 90 minutes, and the train trip is 23 hours including border checks [+199 EUR]

Option 3: Round-trip flight (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing) +299 EUR

Round-trip flight (Beijing-Pyongyang-Beijing): Choosing the round-trip flight option gets you between Beijing and Pyongyang in 1.5 hours (each way), and lets you experience the infamous Air Koryo ‘burger’ twice! For many nationalities, this also allows for the possibility of transiting in Beijing, rather than having to get a Chinese visa (please see below). This option is for those with little time to spare, travelers wanting simply to transit through China, or aviation enthusiasts. [+299 EUR]

AVAILABLE EXTENSIONS

Sinuiju, DPRK

COST: 210 EUR / person

Day 1

Train arrival in Sinuiju at 15:45, meet local guides at train station

Sinuiju Revolutionary Museum

Drive to Dongrim via a visit to Sinamri cooperative farm

Arrival to Dongrim for some hiking at the beautiful Dongrim waterfalls before checking into Dongrim Hotel for your overnight stay

Day 2

Drive back to Sinuiju for a tour of the city including Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory, where you can have a tour of the factory and have the change to pick up a few bargains at the factory shop!

Sinuiju Folk Park, where you can mingle with picnickers, young couples promenading and retired folk sitting around discussing the issues of the day.

Sinuiju History Museum before lunch in a local restaurant

Railway Station Square with its bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

Art Gallery

Performance by the students at Sinuiju Kindergarten

Crossing over the border back to China at 17:30.

You can then either take the train back to Beijing (departs at 18:30 local time) or extend your stay in Dandong to see the other side of the Yalu/Amnok River.

Not included in the tour cost:
50 RMB to take a bus over the border to Dandong at the end of the trip. Please pay this amount in cash on the ground in Sinuiju.

Dandong, PRC (1-Night)

COST: 180 EUR / person

Day 1

Arrive from DPRK at Dandong station around 17:30

Transfer to hotel

Dinner in local Chinese restaurant.

Day 2

Visit the Great Wall at Tiger Mountain - the most eastern part which overlooks North Korea.

Either take a boat trip (RMB 20) at the 'one metre hop' the narrowest point between China and DPRK (it is possible to see Korean People's Army border guards up close, just a few metres away), or hike up the wall for great views.

Jin Jiang Shan park - one of the largest and most comprehensive parks in Dandong city. There’s a great view of Dandong city and Sinuiju from the top of the mountain. Liao Dong Liberation Monument and the Korean Martyrs Cemetery is located in the park.

Boat trip on Yalu River - sweep in and out of North Korean waters - great for photos!

Walk along the ‘Broken Bridge’ which runs parallel to the friendship bridge over the Yalu river connecting the two countries. Half destroyed by the US air force in the Korean War, the broken bridge extends to exactly the halfway point between China and DPRK. All manner of North Korean goodies can be bought in the area, from badges and cigarettes to currency and other knick-knacks.

Pose for photos at the giant red Chairman Mao statue outside the railway station

Overnight sleeper for Beijing, 4-berth soft sleeper beds carry you to China’s capital overnight for an 08:30 arrival the next day

Tour Fee includes the following:

Above attractions

Guides

Transport

Meals

Twin room accommodation in Sunny Resort Hotel (3*)

Dandong, PRC (2-Nights)

COST: 350 EUR / person

Day 1

Arrive from DPRK at Dandong station around 17:30

Transfer to hotel

Dinner in local Chinese restaurant.

Day 2

Visit the Great Wall at Tiger Mountain - the most eastern part which overlooks North Korea.

Either take a boat trip (RMB 20) at the 'one metre hop' the narrowest point between China and DPRK (it is possible to see Korean People's Army border guards up close, just a few metres away), or hike up the wall for great views.

Jin Jiang Shan park - one of the largest and most comprehensive parks in Dandong city. There’s a great view of Dandong city and Sinuiju from the top of the mountain. Liao Dong Liberation Monument and the Korean Martyrs Cemetery is located in the park.

Boat trip on Yalu River - sweep in and out of North Korean waters - great for photos!

Walk along the ‘Broken Bridge’ which runs parallel to the friendship bridge over the Yalu river connecting the two countries. Half destroyed by the US air force in the Korean War, the broken bridge extends to exactly the halfway point between China and DPRK. All manner of North Korean goodies can be bought in the area, from badges and cigarettes to currency and other knick-knacks.

Day 3

Driving up the riverside road making several stops at points where the river that separates the two countries narrows and where there are DPRK settlements on the other side, great for photos and for staring across a physically narrow border but one which in all other ways seems so much greater. Across the river lie some operational bridges for trade between the two sides and some remnants of bridges used in the past and destroyed during the Korean War in the 1950s

Hekou broken bridge which was crossed by the Chinese Volunteer Army (including Chairman Mao’s son, who never crossed back again and is buried in North Korea to this day) and several other fascinating viewing areas.

Shui Feng Hu dam, shared by both China and the DPRK, this generates electrical power for both sides. The difference between the electricity infrastructure on both sides of the river is stark, and we will get as close as possible, even going down to the river itself for photo opportunities of the town just a hundred metres away

Lunch in a local village restaurant

Visit the Taipingwan dam, another shared facility between China and the DPRK

Visit the rural town also known as Taipingwan

Speedboat trip down a channel of water that separates the DPRK mainland from a large Korean island, as long as you stay in the river then you are legally not in the DPRK (the river itself is a shared border, there is no line in between). Here you will see North Korean villages and a port, soldiers guarding the banks and their facilities, it’s a weird and unforgettable journey

Back to Dandong in good time for the 18:30 overnight train to Beijing

Arrival the next day in Beijing at 08:30

Tour Fee includes the following:

Above attractions

Guides

Transport

Meals

Twin room accommodation in Sunny Resort Hotel (3*)

Visa Information

We arrange your North Korean visa as part of your tour package [+50 EUR]. However, given the tour starts and finishes in China you may also need to arrange a Chinese visa for your trip obtained at a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad. We recommend obtaining at least a double-entry Chinese visa for your trip.

Most nationalities will require a visa for China if entering and/or exiting by train.

Over 50 nationalities can obtain a visa-waiver for up to 144 hours when in transit through Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) using direct international flights. Most other nationalities can transit for up to 24 hours.

Please be sure to check your visa status for travel through China while planning your trip. We are unable to arrange Chinese visas, but can provide documentation in support of visa applications upon payment of a tour deposit.

Please note that the itinerary may differ slightly to what is above but your tour leader will do their best to ensure that as much is covered as possible and will also add in extras when there is time such as a visit to a local bar or a funfair. We visit the DPRK regularly and know all the best places to go to make your trip even more unique. We will make the most of your time in the DPRK to guarantee the experience of a lifetime.

TOUR FEE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING

Train Beijing – Pyongyang with transfer at Dandong

Train Pyongyang – Beijing with transfer at Dandong

All meals on the tour apart from the meals on the train between Beijing-Pyongyang